"Doth that man love his Lord who would be willing to see Jesus wearing a crown
of thorns, while for himself he craves a chaplet of laurel? Shall Jesus ascend
to His throne by the cross, and do we expect to be carried there on the
shoulders of the applauding crowds? Be not so vain in your imagination. Count
you the cost, and if you are not willing to bear Christ's cross, go away to your
farm and to your merchandise, and make the most of them; only let me whisper
this in your ear, 'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and
lose his own soul?'"
This quote caught my eye yesterday while reading a book called "Ashamed of the Gospel" by John MacArthur. The book speaks about how the modern churches of today are using new methods to draw in crowds instead of preaching the Gospel. They'd rather have mans approval of things than God's word being preached.
Sometimes we can get caught up in the world. We want the worlds approval of so many things. Do I have the latest fashion? Am I listening to the same music my friend is listening to? "My friend has the latest cell phone, I just HAVE to get it"! ...and so on and so forth...
We are suppose to be different from the world. Isn't that what the Bible says, that we're "foreignors" or "pilgrims", or "strangers" of this world. We are the "called out ones". What is going to happen if those who call them selves Christians begin to act and do things like the world? Who exactly would the world look to?
As I was reading this book by John MacArthur, I began to realize why Christian are to be seperate from the world. No, I'm not saying that you can't have an ipod or a new cell phone. But merely, we can't try to blend into the world. We're suppose to be "lights to those in darkness" -Romans 2:19. How well will our lights shine if we try to "blend" our lights into the darkness. "Oh, is this light too bright for you. I'll dim it alittle so that you will feel better. I don't want you to feel too uncomfortable". That's pretty much the motto of "todays" Christians.
We don't want to offend anyone. Yet, isn't that what the Bible says that the cross will be to some? It says that the cross is "foolishness to those who are perishing". A sinner doesn't exactly want to be told to lay down the love of his life, sin. He'd rather have his "ears tickled" as the Bible says in 2 Timothy 4:1-5. He doesn't want to be told that what he loves the most will send him to hell for eternity. So, that's what the church is giving him!?
So, this would be how the world views us if we are relavent..."Why do I need to become a Christian. They're really not any different than us. We even dress the same way and talk the same way." Some " Christians" say "We want to make people feel better. We want to meet their needs." But, salvation is a NEED for everyone. What does it make a difference if you give people cars and ipods but they're headed straight to hell. Your just buttering them up for eternity in hell. Giving them a little of this and that on earth, but what about their ETERNITY?
Martyn Lloyd Jones stated,
"Our Lord attracted sinners bacause He was different. They drew near to Him
because they felt there was something different about Him...And the world always
expects us to be different. This idea that you are going to win people to the
Christian faith by showing them that after all you are remarkably like them, is
theologically and phychologically a profound blunder."
We need to be telling people of their real need, a Savior! They need to see that they've sinned against a holy God and that His justice demands someone pay. Show them the Ten Commandments, God's holy law. That every lie and every thought will be judged. They need righteousness not a new car. Tell them of the Savior who took their punishment on the cross and paid for their fine in full. He cried "It is finished" or "Paid in full". God crushed His Son under YOUR wrath. Now, to those who repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ, they can be made right with God and can be set free from sins punishment.
What a God we serve! I never cease to be amazed at what He has done.
"May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide-eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross" -Vicky Beeching
In Christ,
~Kirst~
